The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-24
was now quivering at his throat in

spCsth.
IF you make any resistance,
went on. Il will stick this dagger int
your throat: YOU understand"
He evidently did understand. foi
though l exercised great caution. h
gave no signs of activity to justify it.
bound him with severe compression
with the cords he had brought himsel
into the cellar. | gagged him effect
lively, and having made his fastening
doubly secrre, l set him in the midst .
Hardy's grave, and, taking with me hi
dagger and the bunch Of keys, | eS
tingnished the light and left the vault
locking its owner in.
Two more doors l had to open-on
at the foot OF flight Of stairs, tn
other at the top. but the key was ap
parently master-kcy, and all door
yielded to it. Unobserved emerged
into the passage. and hastily and safel
reached my own room.
Ere had time to collect myself, :
knock came mt the door.
WHO is there?'
"H you please, sir, let me in for
minute said woman's voice, which
sounded like Mrs. Hardy's.
..Who is it?'
Mrs. Hardy. sir
had no reason to doubt the woman
and opened the door. She was alone
and seemed considerably agitated.
..Oh. sir. Miss Mary! They're going
to send her away
Away! Whcre?''
ITO the Continent. sir--to Germany
l said I'd help you, sir, but if you onc'
let her 60 you'll never see her again.
when is this to bc?"
This very night
'.Who is going to take her?"
THAT Plowitz, She is to be takei
away from here in carriage as an in
valid, and if you can't stop or follow
the carriage it will be all up. for dom
know which way they are going; ant
you must mind what you do. for there's
a telephone from the house to the lodge
and Grimes he wouldn't stick at moth
ing, no more than my poor mar
would"
l had no time to form any plan. My
only idea was to follow the carriage by
any means nnobserved by the enemy,
until / could call for assistance in some
public place.
Miss Mary sent you this, sir,' said
Mrs. Hardy. holding out a small and
crumpled piece of notepaper.
On it was family pencilled:
"They are going TO carry me away to.
night. For Gods sake, sdre 1ner'
! pressed the note to my lips, and
glanced with satisfaction at the long
shining blade Of the captured dagger.
For stabbing Plowitz. or cutting the
traces, that knife would be equally use
full.
A slight cry from Mrs
Hardy caused me to look up
and l met the gaze Of Plowitz himself
He looked pale. hooking. malicious.
.Mrs. Hardy" he said. .you are
scarcely discreet. Didn't You know
what a dangerous young man this is
who pretends he cannot see. and We
keeps his eyes SO wide open. Co..
Mrs. Hardy. with 4 look Of caution a
me quickly disappeared.
Il will keep my eyes open now, Her
Plowitz," l answered hastily; land
will not shut them till I see Miss For
tescue in a place Of safety. where sh'
will be in no danger from bullics ant
kidnappcrs.'
mir. Coplcstone. You are very ma
very mad indeed. Mrs. Hardy ha
been gossiping | SUPPOSE
she has told me that Miss Fortescn
is going TO be carried off tonight"
Carried of !! And suppose that Mis-
Fortescuc is about to leave England
may l ask, dear Coplestonc, what tn
devil that has got to Ito with you?"
You may know, and you shal
know. 1t has everything to 10 wit
me, because l choose to forbid It'll
smiled like a Gilman am-..and fol
bid it because she has appealed to M
for protection! And showed him I'll
little note.
He became palcr still.
You forget your position here" h
said quite calmly. You are dismissed
and believe. between ourselves. iha
you will he prosecuted for ob,ainin,
your situation here under false preten
scs. ! could not allow my fa,sccc to l.,
under any obligation to swindler"
strodeup to him. | gloatcd over hin
for a moment, l raised my arm. Isay
q strange look of fear in his hateful
face. He sprang back, and shouted TO
help. Full between the eyes he shout
have it. The look Of fear gave way
q sudden CLEAN of relief, and / wa
nearly strangled by a strong, hard arm
thrown around my neck from behind
The blow fell harmless on the air, AM
in second ! was securely pinioned
Then l was blindfolded, and bound
without seeing anything Of my aggrei
sors.
My doubts were solved to some e1
tent by the Basilisk's voice saying, i
the tone Of the housewife giving direct
ions for the bestowal of furniture
Take him to the north tower" wa
carried up and down several shol
flights Of steps, and along passages, an
then up some twenty steps. A doc
was unlocked. / was carried into
room, laid helpless upon bed, til
door was double-locked upon me, and
was once more A prisoner.
TO BE CONTINUED.